Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Palm Harbor, FL

Honors/Awards:

• Inducted into ABOTA, Member, American Board of Trial Advocacy, 2011
• Jurisprudence Awards for Torts I, Trial Advocacy, Appellate Argument, and Moot Court
• Betsey has been chosen by her peers as Florida's Legal Elite from 2011 - 2017., Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite, 2011
• Appointed to Mammography Accessibility Workgroup by the President of the Florida Senate, 2004
• Florida Secretary of Health Award for Service, Florida Department of Health, 2004
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association, 2007
• Member, The American Association of Justice
• Board of Directors, Florida Justice Association, 2002 – 2009
• Member of American Board of Trial Advocates since 2011 up to the present time., 2011
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• Member, Florida Justice Association, 1997
• Executive Committee for the Academy of Florida Justice Association, 2005
• Tennessee, 1995
• Member, The Florida Bar Association
• Past President, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers, 2006 – 2007
• Florida, 1995

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Hillsborough County Ask a Lawyer at Fox 13 News Station, 2019
• Hillsborough County Bar Ask a Lawyer program in affiliation with Fox 13., 2006
• Participation in Hillsborough County Bar Association "Ask a Lawyer" at Fox 13, Tampa, FL, 2008
• Past Secretary of the Women's Caucus and an EAGLE program sponsor
• Served on Hillsborough County Committee for Community Support raising funds for Slain officers and The Gold Shield., 2010

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Various lectures on medical topics and preparing clients to testify and preparing your case for trial., Lecturer, CMEs, Cross Examination, Medical Experts, Florida Justice Association, 2001

Verdicts/Settlements:

• 7 figure resolution of matter with Ride Share Company, 2018
• Verdict of nearly $2,000,000 against State Farm arising from refusal to pay policy limit of $100,000., 2005
• Settlement just under 7 figures for victim who was not blood typed before surgery by anesthesia, surgeon or hospital., 2012
• Eight figure settlement of catastrophic injuries involving a commercial vehicle., 2016
• Settlement of fall with ankle fracture on apartment stairs where resident had lived for 2 years prior in an amount of $289,000., 2009
• Verdict in excess of $1,000,000 against Cypress Gardens in Water Ski show for boat driver's negligence, 2004
• Verdict against GEICO in automobile case with TMJ injury in amount exceeding $750,000., 2001
• Settlement of out of state automobile accident matter for Florida resident of $350,000 for injuries involving rib fracture, fracture of small finger and herniated disk., 2013
• Trial of liability in trucking matter.  Court awarded attorneys fees and verdict in favor of clients., 2018
• Entry of Judgment against GEICO for $750,000 pending bad faith action where policy limit was $10,000. Settlement of case after entry of Judgment in 2011., 2009
• Verdict of $230,000 against Food Lion in fall down case with contested liability and unknown customers who allegedly moved warning cones., 2001
• Settlement with premises insurer involving fall on stairs by resident who had lived in apartment for two years in excess of $250,000.00., 2010
• Seven Figure Settlement (confidential) with major Florida hospital system arising from a failure to inform of radiologic findings for over four years., 2013
• Verdict in Dade County for victims involved in collision with a commercial vehicle.  Court awarded attorneys fees., 2015
• 7 figure settlement with hospital system for failure to diagnose epidural abscess., 2010
• Settlement of Automobile Injury Case in an amount exceeding $200,000 with disk injury from minor side impact., 2010

Transactions:

• Verdict against Allstate in the amount of $653,000 pending bad faith action after underinsured Sheriff's Officer Rear-ender client on $100,000 policy limit where Allstate paid full verdict.

Other Outstanding Achievements:

• Fox 13 News - Interviews with Russell Rhodes on Glyphosate Food Contaminants, Key Fob Dangers and Distracted Driving Laws., 2019

Videos:

• Glyphosate is prevalent in food. know which foods are the highest., Food and Drink Contamination - Your Legal Rights, Food Safety, Legal, 2019
• Florida adopted a new law which makes cellphone use a primary offense., Florida Distracted Driving Law, Automotive, Personal Injury, 2019
• Key FOBs are causing CO poisoning.  New technology exists.  Careful for your safety., CO Poisoning From Defective Key Fobs, Automotive Safety, 2019

Educational Background:

• Wake Forest University, M.A., Cardiovascular Physiology, 1985
• University of Florida, B.S., With Honors, 1982
• Memphis State University, J.D., 1994